RANKING · 2024 ACS · 31 SHOWN OF 31

Most population gained, West Virginia cities

West Virginia cities that added the most residents from the 2020 census to 2024, by raw count of people rather than percentage. This list covers the 31 cities in West Virginia that qualify, ranked against each other statewide. The median across all 31 is -136. Biggest climber in the top 100 since 2020: Nitro, WV, up 17 places to #6.

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West VirginiaAll statesPop > 5KAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros

YEAR2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOPULATION CHANGEVS 2000

01Cheat Lake, WVWV10,902+972−60%

02▲1Charles, WVWV9,329+803+5253%

03▲6Brookhaven, WVWV6,212+505−44%

04▲8Pea Ridge, WVWV6,988+386–

05▲1Ranson corporation, WVWV6,853+296–

06▲17Nitro, WVWV6,270+229−890%

07▼5Martinsburg, WVWV19,211+127−86%

08▲9Cross Lanes, WVWV9,671-56−89%

09▲12Buckhannon, WVWV5,054-70−62%

10▲5New Martinsville, WVWV5,039-71−90%

11▼7Bridgeport, WVWV9,427-84−115%

12▼4Hurricane, WVWV7,367-106−115%

13▼6Morgantown, WVWV30,293-111−112%

14Elkins, WVWV6,622-123−68%

15▼2Vienna, WVWV10,321-134+13300%

16▲8Princeton, WVWV5,578-136−80%

17▼6South Charleston, WVWV13,072-190−25%

18Fairmont, WVWV18,035-195−82%

19▼14Teays Valley, WVWV14,151-199−105%

20▲7Moundsville, WVWV7,659-224−70%

21▼1Dunbar, WVWV7,050-226−58%

22▼12Oak Hill, WVWV7,629-242−131%

23▲3Bluefield, WVWV9,158-271−79%

24▼8St. Albans, WVWV10,210-339−191%

25▼6Beckley, WVWV16,373-468−55%

26▲3Parkersburg, WVWV28,593-498−30%

27▼5Clarksburg, WVWV15,562-512−60%

28▼3Weirton, WVWV18,133-516−70%

29▼1Wheeling, WVWV25,680-702−80%

30Huntington, WVWV44,815-1,055−69%

31Charleston, WVWV46,117-1,443−63%

SHOWING 1–31 OF 31

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UPDATED 2026-09-11 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES